Knife found in NZ murder hunt

POLICE investigating the murder of a Brisbane retiree who died after being randomly stabbed in New Zealand on New Year's Day want to talk with a person who handed in a knife to security two days later.

The security guard did not take their details.

Indooroopilly resident Robert Murray Wilkinson, 64, died on Thursday from injuries suffered from the attack in the beach town Waihi Beach.

The keen fishermen, a New Zealander who moved to Queensland to live, was staying in a caravan in front of a friend's home when he heard a noise outside early in the morning and went to investigate.

He was then attacked, receiving significant stab wounds, and was in intensive care for days before he passed away in a hospital in Waikato on the country's north island.

Detective Inspector Chris Page of the Waikato CIB said the person who handed in the knife on the evening of January 3 had done the right thing but the security guard had not taken their details.

""It is not known if this knife has anything to do with the incident, but for the investigation it is very important for us to know where the knife was found, when, and by who," he said in a statement today.

"These are the sorts of details that help us to determine what is and is not relevant in cases such as this.

"If you were the person who handed the knife in or you have any other information, the Operation Brad team wants to speak to you."